We met through our involvement in an international campus ministry called Cru. We had mutual friends in the ministry, and began to get to know each other throughout our junior year at Ohio State University. Our first date Nathan took us to Forno (an Italian restaurant in Columbus), and then we went putt-putt! It has been so special and such a gift to grow our relationship in the midst of mutual friendships in and out of college. God opened doors to so many adventures and memories alongside our friends and between each other, and each of those have built into the way He has taught us to love and encourage each other.

Nathan made this day more special than I could have ever imagined!! He thought through so many fine details & I will try to sum it up :)

So.. my roommates Abbey, Amber and I had made plans earlier in the week to go get bubble tea on Saturday afternoon. Abbey was returning home from a family brunch as Amber and I were waiting in our kitchen to leave. Abbey walked in the kitchen & said "so Maddie I have a surprise." And then, two of my best friends from out-of-town walked into the kitchen-- & in response I screamed in joy and shock. In that moment I thought to myself "is this the day????" but I didn't say anything quite yet. Earlier that week, Nate had asked for us to go on a date that Sunday the 25th, so I kind of thought it was happening the next day. We had plans to go to dinner that night with his family, so I didn't really think it would happen there.

After bubble-tea and cherishing time with those friends, Abbey was driving us home & to my surprise (again), "casually" turned into a nail salon. We got our nails done together, and I couldn't stop smiling thinking about what a gift the day was and thinking about what this was or was not leading to. We got to our apartment and all of the girls slowly left for various (very valid) reasons, so that kind of encouraged the idea of the engagement not happening that day. I was planning on meeting Nate's family at his house to drive to dinner, so I headed out shortly after them, too. I was stuck between if it was happening that day or the next.

The second I turned into his driveway and saw Nate standing outside waiting to greet me (this was very abnormal)- I started shaking. He directed me to the side of his house, where he had lined a walkway with shepherd's hooks with mason jars filled with flowers and pictures of our adventures together hanging from them. He lead us to each spot, talking about the various things, difficult and sweet, that we had walked through together. I couldn't stop squeezing his arm and shaking hahaha. We turned the corner into his backyard and there laid a blanket surrounded by flowers. Nate helped me to the blanket and before I knew it, he was down on one knee!! The shaking and squealing continued and after having a moment to ourselves, we heard cheering and celebration coming from the balcony of the house. We turned, and Nate pointed as our families and friends ran out to celebrate with us!!!! The JOY. I was completely blown away and will forever cherish that day. It was so special that he incorporated people in our lives who have poured into our relationship, and taught us how to love each other. & now, exactly 9 months from that day-- May 24th, 2020, we are getting married in the presence of all of you-- we truly cannot express how EXCITED we are to celebrate with you all.